We're devoting this issue to the Welsh goddess Rhiannon, faery princess, runaway bride. Later she became a bride, wife, mother, divorcee and, eventually, queen.

 

Since today is Mother's Day, and in honor of Rhiannon's longsuffering experience as a mother, I'd like to wish each of you a Happy Mother's Day and share this wonderful piece that is circulating on the web. (As is often the case, no author was identified. I haven't been able to track the information down, but will share it with you when I do.)

 

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars.

And that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers and grandmothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college ~or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us...

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mom..

Please pass this along to all the Moms in your life.

"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall."

Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.

(I just did!)

 

Doing It My Way

 

Several days ago I got an email from a disgruntled reader that chided me for basing the story of Rhiannon that we tell at the website on one of the lesser known variations of her myths rather than the more widely known (dare I say 'officially sanctioned') version. I had chosen the version I did because it spoke to me more eloquently of the psychological 'binds' that modern women confront in their lives and especially in their marriages.

 

OK, it was a retelling of my favorite version and it was my website, but last time I looked the First Amendment was still in place, giving me the right to speak my mind and do it MY way!

 

It is possible that I might have missed the news if indeed the First Amendment had been repealed. For weeks now the media has been focused almost entirely on the goings on of Michael Jackson and the story of ...

 

The Runaway Bride

 

Although we don't yet know the full story behind why Jennifer Willbanks became a runaway bride, obviously she was not having fun planning her wedding.

 

While it is an extreme -- and extremely sad -- example, this story shines a light on the fact that many brides, unfortunately, are taking the "stress express" down the aisle.  (Running away from the prospect of marriage is hardly a recent phenomenon. The myths of the Goddess Rhiannon recount her experience as a runaway bride. I'll tell you about her later in the newsletter.)

 

Planning a wedding really is meant to be a joyous and sacred time in a woman's life ... yet so many brides find it can also be a very overwhelming and filled with worries, large and small.

 

What has snatched the sense of sacredness from preparing for the wedding day? And how can we bring the joy and spirit back to the wedding experience?